D044/CD/V2/June 2011 AYRSHIRE GREEN NETWORK Contents 1.0 Introduction Figures 1.1 Background to the Central Scotland Green Network Fig. 1 Central Scotland Green Network Location 1.2 National Planning Framework and Ayrshire Joint Structure Plan Fig. 2 Ayrshire and Districts Location Plan 1.3 Background and Purpose of the Study Fig. 3 Study Area 1.4 Green Infrastructure Fig. 4 Planning and Environmental Designations 1.5 Study Team Fig. 5 Settlements with Population greater than 2000 Fig. 6 Irvine Bay Potential Green Network Sites 2.0 Context of Ayrshire Green Network Fig. 7 Ayrshire Pilgrims’ Trail 2.1 Planning Context Fig. 8 Existing Typology for Ayrshire 2.2 Socio-demographic profi le Fig. 9 Topography 2.3 Existing Initiatives Fig. 10 Sensitive Landscape Areas 2.4 Existing Green Networks Fig. 11 Landscape Character Areas Fig. 12 Designed Landscape Locations Fig. 13 Existing Woodland Locations 3.0 Description of Existing Key Features Fig. 14 Green Space Audit 3.1 Topography Fig. 15 Biodiversity 3.2 Landscape and Landscape Character Fig. 16 Corridors for Wildlife 3.3 Forestry, Woodland and Hedgerows Fig. 17 Heritage 3.4 Natural Heritage Assets Fig. 18 Geology of Arran 3.5 Built Heritage Assets and Archaeology Fig. 19 National Cycle Network 3.6 Road and Path Networks Fig. 20 Core Paths 3.7 Vacant and Disused Land Fig. 21 Green Travel Routes Fig. 22 Vacant and Derelict Land 4.0 GIS Mapping Process Fig. 23 Function Map Example – Trapping Air Pollutants 4.1 Methodology Fig. 24 Multifunctionality 4.2 Typology Maps Fig. 25 Benefi t Map Example – Health & Wellbeing 4.3 Functionality of Study Area Fig. 26 Needs Map Example – Trapping Air Pollutants 4.4 Benefi ts Fig. 27 Needs Fulfi lled and Not Fulfi lled Example – Trapping Air Pollutants 4.5 Needs Fig. 28 Needs Fulfi lled Map for Ayrshire 4.6 Needs Fulfi lled and Not Fulfi lled Fig. 29 Needs Not Fulfi lled Map for Ayrshire 4.7 Analysis Fig. 30 Needs Fulfi lled Example – Health and Wellbeing Fig. 31 Needs Not Fulfi lled Example - Health and Wellbeing 5.0 Principal Forces of Change Fig. 32 Communities within 300 metres of Greenspace / Accessible Countryside 5.1 Socio-economic Drivers and Funding Fig. 33 Business Locations 5.2 Private/Public Sector Partnership Working Fig. 34 Opencast Locations 5.3 Inspiring Communities, Organisations and Business Fig. 35 Population within 2 kms of a railway or bus station 5.4 Regeneration Priorities in Ayrshire Fig. 36 Health Deprivation 5.5 Links with CSGN Initiatives and Goals for the AGN Fig. 37 Action Plan 1 Core Area 5.6 Short and Long Term Management Fig. 38 Action Plan 2 North Coast Investment Area 5.7 Impact of Climate Change Fig. 39 Action Plan 3 Garnock Valley 5.8 Impact on Development and Planning Policy Fig. 40 Action Plan 4 Glasgow Link Fig. 41 Action Plan 5 Irvine Valley 6.0 Action Plans Fig. 42 Action Plan 6 A70/A76 Investment Corridor 6.1 Introduction Fig. 43 Action Plan 7 Doon Valley Investment Corridor 6.2 Vision for the Ayrshire Green Network Fig. 44 Action Plan 8 Carrick Coast Investment Corridor 6.3 Link Between GIS Needs Not Fulfi lled, CSGN and AGN Actions 6.4 Action Plans Appendices (Refer to separate A4 Document) Core Area Appendix A Potential Projects Investment Corridors Appendix B GIS Methodology and Summary of Terminology Appendix C Funding Sources 7.0 Recommendations Appendix D GIS Plans (Electronic Format) 7.1 Governance, Partnership and Management Appendix E Bibliography 7.2 Delivery and Timescale CONTENTS 0.0 1 AYRSHIRE GREEN NETWORK 1.0 Introduction 1.1 Background to the Central Scotland Green Network 1.1.1 The Central Scotland Green Network (CSGN) is a national development within the National Planning Framework for Scotland which aims to make ‘a signifi cant contribution to the country’s sustainable economic development’. It involves public agencies and stakeholders working together in Partnership to align their policies, programmes and actions to achieve a common aim. That aim is to change the face of Central Scotland by restoring and improving the rural and urban landscape of the area. CSGN’s Vision for Central Scotland is that ‘By 2050, Central Scotland has been transformed into a place where the environment adds value to the economy and where people’s lives are enriched by its quality’. 1.1.2 A CSGN Partnership Board has been established to help drive forward development and delivery of the Green Network and to allow representation from various constituencies to ensure wide participation and involvement in the initiative. The CSGN will connect green and blue spaces in our towns and cities with the wider countryside and coast. It will be made up of the following: • Parks, public spaces (formal and informal) and gardens (public and private), street trees, green roofs and green walls in urban areas • Networks of natural and semi-natural habitats, such as woodlands, hedgerows and peatland, in the countryside and linking into the urban areas • Rivers, streams, ponds, wetlands and man-made structures such as canals and ‘sustainable urban drainage systems’ (blue spaces) • The cliffs, beaches and marshland which form our coastline • Existing path and cycle networks and greened transport corridors. 1.1.3 To be successful, work aimed at delivering the CSGN needs to respect 10 principles which defi ne what the CSGN is and its relationship to sustainable economic growth. In addition fi ve themes have been developed by CSGN to provide direction to deliver the vision. Detail of CSGN’s Principles and Themes can be found at http://centralscotlandgreennetwork.org/ 1.2 National Planning Framework and Ayrshire Joint Structure Plan 1.2.1 The need for coordinated action to support economic development and regeneration within Central Ayrshire is identifi ed in the National Planning Framework II and the approved Ayrshire Joint Structure Plan – Growing A Sustainable Ayrshire. The Joint Structure Plan Development Framework sets the long term strategic land use framework and recognises that all parts of Ayrshire have a vital contribution to make to the area’s future prosperity and quality of life. The framework comprises three interrelated elements including Core Investment Area, Investment Corridors and Local Communities (refer to Figure 3 – Study Area). The Core Investment Area focuses on the major towns of Ayr, Kilmarnock and Irvine whilst the Investment Corridors are primarily defi ned by the main river valleys and main transport routes. 1.2.2 Ayrshire Joint Structure Plan Policy ENV 4 seeks to develop and promote a Green Network for Ayrshire through: • Good design, landscape and habitat enhancement associated with development, • Ensuring local development proposals within the Investment Corridors provide integral consideration of the landscape setting of communities as well as linking green spaces within and outside communities, • The three Councils preparing a Woodlands In and Around Towns Initiative to promote environmental regeneration and recreational access. INTRODUCTION 1.0 2 AYRSHIRE GREEN NETWORK 1.0 Introduction 1.3 Background and Purpose of the Study 1.4 Green Infrastructure 1.3.1 The three Ayrshire Councils, as local planning authorities, are seeking to facilitate the implementation of the Central Scotland Green Network in Ayrshire. The Ayrshire Joint Planning Unit (AJPU) and Project Partners, Forestry Commission Scotland and Scottish Natural Heritage recognised the need for an initial piece of work to scope out the: • Options for organisational arrangements to deliver facilitation of the Green Network. • Extent and form of the existing green network within the study area. • Initial opportunities for its enhancement. 1.3.2 The study is the fi rst step in the preparation of a strategy for the development and long term management of a high quality Green Network across the three administrative areas of Ayrshire. The strategy will be designed to establish the principles of the CSGN and to develop ideas to maximise social, economic and environmental benefi ts. 1.3.3 This study which has involved considerable Geographical Information System (GIS) mapping and analysis for the whole of Ayrshire provides guidance on the following The context of the Ayrshire Green Network (AGN) (section 2), this section describes the Planning Context, Socio-Demographic profi le for Ayrshire, and Existing Initiatives that already provide considerable potential to develop green networks. (the reference to “Existing Green Networks” here and at para 2.4 is confusing as the report jumps about from setting the general context to presenting part of the detailed technical analysis before the section that explains the gis project) Description of Existing Key Features and Green Network Assets (section 3) – understanding of Ayrshire’s considerable existing green assets is vital to the study, this section describes the topography, geology, landscape and landscape character, forestry and woodlands, natural heritage assets, built heritage assets and archaeology. Figure 1 Central Scotland Green Network Location GIS Mapping Process and Analysis (section 4) – this section describes the methodology used for the mapping process and examples of the process. 1.4.1 The term “Green Infrastructure Planning” is increasingly being recognised as an essential part Identifi cation of the Principles Forces of Change that may infl uence the establishment of sustainable spatial planning. Green Infrastructure is Ayrshire’s life support system. Green of Green Networks in Ayrshire (section 5) – socio-economic drivers and potential funding Infrastructure can be considered as comprising of green components which when linked together sources are examined as well as private/public sector partnership working, inspiring communities, form a Green Network. These components lie within and between the towns and villages and organisations and business, soft infrastructure, regeneration priorities for Ayrshire and the links to provide multiple social, economic and environmental benefi ts. the CSGN Initiatives and Goals.